Editorials|1 February 1950

ENCEPHALITIS FOLLOWING VACCINATION AGAINST PERTUSSIS

Abstract

Severe injury of the brain ("encephalitis") and spinal cord has been observed as an immediate or early sequel of many immunization procedures, including the inoculation of living vaccines, killed bacterial suspensions or other culture materials, and prophylactic antisera. The incidence of such reactions is, in general, extremely low, so low that any one individual even if actively engaged in this type of work is likely to see only a few such cases in a life time. The results of such injuries, however, are often so devastating that the possibility of their occurrence should be generally realized.